Wetland workshop prepares scouts for earning badges

A total of 17 scouts were present at the workshop and they are all thankful for the experience.

March 2, 2024

Boitumelo Komape 1 minute read

All attendees of the Gekco wetland workshop.

The Greater Kyalami Conservancy (Gekco) hosted a wetland workshop at Cluny Farm on February 10, to create awareness and educate residents on the kinds of environments that wetlands exist in. The workshop was sourced from World Wetlands Day which was on February 2. With attendance from the First Riversands Scout group, the event was a success or some would say a learning curve.

Dr Althea Grundling teaches attendees of the events about the different plants found in the wetlands.

According to Nokwanda Shabangu from Wot-if trust, an organisation that helps the scouts with accommodation when meeting, they were invited by the chairperson of Gekco. “This was definitely good for the scouts because going forward they now know better. They know so much more that will help them when working to earn their badges and identifying wetlands in their areas,” said Shabangu.

Lovebirds Thanda Kunene and Nokwanda Shabangu say nature is a good way of bringing them closer together.

“I am confident in saying the workshop empowered the 15 scouts that attended. I believe this taught them to appreciate the greenery in their surroundings.”

Attendees hiked to the river were they were taught more about wetlands.

A troop scouter, Peter Ngobeni, thanked Gekco for the invitation and the workshop. “The scouts were telling me they learnt how important it is to preserve wetlands and how one cannot build a home on these wetlands. I felt proud. They showed immense interest.”

Scouts Rebone Moleleki and Phuti Maboa are happy to learn something that will add to their knowledge when earning badges.

Dr Piet Louis, Dr Althea and Renee Grundling, as well as the Gekco chairperson, Kristin Kallesen, were happy to have shared their knowledge on wetlands.